IRVING, Texas - WKU volleyball student-athletes Heather Boyan and Rachel Engle were named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team, the league announced on Monday.
Boyan and Engle are two of 11 selections to the team, as WKU is one of three schools with a pair of players. The two honorees were also recent selections to the Capital One Academic All-District list with C-USA sporting five All-District members. Along with their teammates, Boyan and Engle have helped WKU earn an AVCA All-Academic Team Award each year of their careers.
Boyan is an exercise science major with a minor in nutrition, as the senior sports a 3.8 GPA. A two-time Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, the Munster, Ind., native ranks in the top 105 nationally while fifth in the league with a .338 hitting percentage. Boyan's defensive game is also taking a step up this season, as she leads the team and the league with 1.14 blocks per set. Last season, Boyan was named to the SBC Commissioner's List, joining five other Lady Toppers.
Engle holds a 4.0 GPA with a major in biology and minor in chemistry. Selected to the Sun Belt Conference's Commissioner's List in 2013, the junior shows her versatility on the court by playing any position when called. The Floyds Knobs, Ind., native holds 192 digs, 71 kills, 31 assists and a team-best 26 service aces. She was named to the Holiday Inn University Plaza Invitational All-Tournament Team after notching 31 digs, 14 kills and four service aces in wins over No. 8 Purdue, Austin Peay and Western Michigan.
The Lady Toppers begin postseason action after wrapping up the regular season with a 27-5 record and 15-1 C-USA mark on their way to claiming a share of the league's regular-season title. WKU enters the C-USA Tournament on Friday, Nov. 21 at the No. 2 seed and will face No. 7 Florida Atlantic at 5 p.m. CT on the campus of Southern Miss.
The 2014 WKU volleyball season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For all the latest news and information on WKU volleyball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program on Twitter via @TravisHudsonWKU and @WKUVolleyball.
2014 Conference USA All-Academic Team
Sammie Bane | Sr. | Marshall | 3.95 | Exercise Science and Psychology Double Major
Ally Kiekover | So. | Marshall | 3.79 | Cell Molecular Biology Major/Chemistry Minor (Pre-Med)
Amy Henard | So. | North Texas | 3.82 | Biology/Chemistry
Leah Mikesky | So. | Rice | 4.13 | Kinesiology
Kristen Fleming | Sr. | Southern Miss | 3.82 | Speech Pathology and Audiology
Mary Pursell | Jr. | Southern Miss | 3.81 | Accounting
Bethanie Thomas | Sr. | UAB | 3.95 | Civil Engineering
Lindsey Larson | So. | UTEP | 3.87 | Civil Engineering
Dempsey Thornton | Sr. | UTSA | 4.0 | Sport, Event and Tourism Management
Heather Boyan | Sr. | WKU | 3.8 | Exercise Science Major/Nutrition Minor
Rachel Engle | Jr. | WKU | 4.0 | Biology Major/Chemistry Minor (Pre-Pharmacy)
